FAQs
This section contains answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) relating to the UAE Government's services.
About this portal (U.ae)
You can contact this portal via:
Phone: 80012
Fax: +97126118229
eMail: egov@tra.gov.ae
P O Box: 116688 Abu Dhabi, UAEYes, it does. You will find it on all the pages at the top right corner.
Yes, the portal provides a site map.
You can find links to the websites of the local/emirate governments on the useful links page.
The design of this portal complies with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). That means, you can change the font size and colour and the background colour of the portal. Read the accessibility features of this portal.
Read the privacy policy of U.ae.
You will find a set of smiley buttons at the bottom of every content page. Choose one as per the level of usefulness of information on that page. You can also use the 'Contact this portal' page to share feedback.
Government websites in the UAE provide help and tutorials on how to use eServices through service cards, interactive pages and videos. Find guidance and tutorials on using eServices in the UAE.
You can file a complaint about public service through 171Tawasul, the unified federal customer relationship management (CRM) platform.
Yes, the portal offers online consultations inviting the public to share their opinions on a variety of matters. People share their opinions and this helps the government in deliberating policies.
You can find the result of consultations under the closed consultations section and on the page about crowdsourcing for policy-making.
The services of the UAE Government are accessible through many online and offline channels such as kiosks, banks and typing centres. Read about it on the page about service channels.
On U.ae, you can find:
- information and services for individuals, visitors, businesses and government provided by the UAE federal and local and government entities
- an informational section about the UAE’s economy, political and government system, its strategies, plans and initiatives, history and culture
- a link to the eParticipation portal (Sharik.ae) which includes: consultations, blogs, forum, ideation, feedback and suggestions, polls, online chat, in addition to the UAE Government entities' social media accounts on: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram
- a media section which includes latest news and videos about UAE Government
- a calendar for events in the UAE
- a list of the federal and local government entities a help section which provides you with links to contact this portal and/or the federal and local entities, in addition to a guide on how to handle emergencies in the UAE and important phone numbers
- a rich resources section for important documents and links related to the UAE eGovernment and mGovernment, as well as media material, terminologies and Wi-Fi hotspots in the UAE
- a refined search engine for accurate results.
- For more clarification on the portal components, you can check this portal’s sitemap, located at the footer.
Business
Suppliers who are registered in the Ministry of Finance's Supplier’s Federal Register can view approved tenders and auctions and results of government bidding. Read about it on the page about government tendering and awarding.
Digital participation
Justice and Safety
Yes, use these channels to report discrimination and violation of human rights.
You can report incidents to the police through a variety of channels. Find information on the handling emergencies page.
A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), known also as ‘Good Conduct Certificate’ is a proof of the person’s criminal record or the lack of it in the state in which he/she resides. In the UAE, the certificate is issued by police departments across the UAE and it indicates that the person is not accused or does not have any criminal precedents. You can apply for a PCC online.
In the UAE, Ministry of Justice is the federal entity, which regulates justice affairs. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have their own local judicial systems. Read more about justice and law in the UAE. For more information about the UAE’s policy on justice and law enforcement, please visit these websites:
Open Data
You can use this form to request for data from DubaiPulse.
The UAE Government started an annual nationwide hackathon titled ‘The UAE Hackathon – Data for Happiness’ in February 2018. The hackathon involved using government data to invent apps that provide solutions/services for the benefit of people. In fact, the hackathon is also important to develop the future skills of youth.
Refer to data dictionary on the website of UAE's Data portal, Bayanat.
You can suggest data to the Bayanat portal.
Disclosing government data brings transparency in government transactions and makes them accountable for their actions. It facilitates public scrutiny and evaluation of government performance. Open data helps in efficient use of resources, designing customized service delivery and creation of more jobs. It helps people to make informed decisions about public policies and identify development opportunities. Through all its endeavours, open government data helps to achieve the SDGs. A document issued by World Bank (PDF) estimates the direct, annual economic value of open government data in two different studies as up to 40 billion euros throughout the European Union and close to 2 billion pounds in the UK. Read more on open data.
The UAE passed the Dubai Data law. In addition, it launched the open data guidelines and adopted open data policy an example of which can be found on the website of Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority.
Bayanat.ae is the national portal for open government data in the UAE
Refer to the UAE Smart Data Framework - Implementation Guide (Word, 2MB).
People of determination (People with disabilities)
Federal Law No. 29 of 2006 Concerning the Rights of People with disabilities protects the rights of people with disabilities and guarantees them the right to live with dignity. Discrimination is defined as any segregation, exclusion or restriction due to special needs leading to the damage or denial of recognition of any rights granted by the prevailing legislation in the country or its practice or enjoyment on an equal footing. This way, the UAE strives to empower and promote the social inclusion of all.
Federal Law No. 29 of 2006 Concerning the Rights of People with Special Needs protects the rights of people of determination (special needs) and guarantees them the right to live with dignity. The page about people of determination covers several policies and facilities offered to them. The UAE is also a signatory to the various conventions in this regard. Read about it on the page about protecting the rights of people of determination (people with special needs).
People of determination receive social assistance, accessible healthcare, quality education and equal opportunities to get a job. In addition, they receive rehabilitation and accessible transport and parking facilities. Read about services offered to people of determination.
Under the National Policy for Empowering People with Special Needs, people with special needs or disabilities will be referred to as ‘people of determination’ to recognize their achievements in different fields.
Services
Yes, to get a birth certificate parents can apply to Ministry of Health and Prevention or the health authority in their emirate of residence for a birth certificate online.
You can check links below for related services.
- Birth certificate issuance - Ministry of Health and Prevention
- Apply for a birth certificate in Au Dhabi- TAMM
Apply through Dubai building permit system- Dubai Municipality
Services relating to construction permit – Abu Dhabi city Municipality
Yes, qualified drivers can apply online for a driving license from the related local transport authority.
eServices:
Yes, Ministry of Justice has launched eMarriage service that lets couples wishing to get married to book an appointment with a marriage officer through an online updated database linked to the ID card system.
Both, the Judicial Department in Abu Dhabi and Dubai Courts facilitate online marriage applications.
- Marriage contract– Dubai Courts
- Marriage contracts – Judicial Department Abu Dhabi
Yes, you can apply online for most of the scholarships provided by entities.
- Scholarship eService- Ministry of Education
- Scholarships, fellowships and Graduate Assistantships - UAE University
Yes, you can search for vacancy positions in the UAE Government through a number of official job portals, including Federal Government job portal, Abu Dhabi Government job portal, and Dubai Government job portal.
Read moreYes, you can retrieve information on your personal details and services. Moreover, you can file a case online and enquire about a case online.
UAE Government
Registered companies in the UAE have access to view the records related to their businesses and employees.
They can view the data of their economic licences through the National Economic register and their vat records through the eServices portal of the Federal Tax authority. Companies are given a secured access to eChannels where they can view the status of their company, the records of the employees they sponsor at the Ministry of the Human Resources and Emiratisation and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs..Through UAE Pass, which is the single sign-on for all UAE government services, users can modify their own data online
Update your identity profile – Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship
Update customer information – Dubai Electricity and Water Authority
Request to update residential data– Dubai Municipality.
H. E. Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, Director General, Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) executes the role of Chief Information Officer (CIO) in the UAE. As the CIO, H. E. Mesmar leads the management and implementation of national projects and initiatives that are aimed at achieving the digitalisation of the country. Learn more.
Through the UAE’s National Economic register (NER), one can get instant information about existing companies and business activities in the UAE.
The UAE provides more than 6,000 federal and local digital services. At the federal level, there are 2,635 federal digital services; 2,126 of these are transactional digital services.
Read more about eServices in this portal.
You can find information about the bidding process for government tenders on the pages about government tendering and awarding and tendering for partnership contracts.
This page provides information about the Wi-Fi hotspots and ways to connect to Wi-Fi in the UAE.
Charity and humanitarian work
Fund raising activities can be carried out only after obtaining a permit from the UAE’s registered charity organisations.
UAE nationals can apply online to Ministry of Community Development, while expatriate residents need to submit their application to the ministry through their respective embassy or consulate in the UAE.
The ministry will consider the application and refer it to the Cabinet, which takes the final decision on registering the organisation.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments offers an eDonation service for those who wish to donate to various types of endowments.
You can report beggars in:
- Abu Dhabi on 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
- Dubai on 800243
- Sharjah on 065632222
- Ras Al Khaimah on 072053372
- Ajman on 067401616
- Umm Al Quwain on 999
- Fujairah on 092051100 or 092224411
Beggars are liable to be fined and/or deported as decided by the courts.
Education
Does the UAE government plan consultations which involve people in education concerns faced earlier?
The website of Commission for Academic Accreditation provides a search engine for private institutes for higher education in the UAE.
Established in 2014, Qualifications and Awards in Dubai (QAD) is the arm of KHDA responsible for regulating the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector, and to quality assure TVET qualifications in Dubai. QAD operates under the rules and regulations of KHDA while its awarding body functions are regulated by the NQA and VETAC.
In Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ACTVET) is authorized to regulate TVET within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The UAE has prioritized the development of vocational skills to respond to the technological changes and prepare skilled human resources for the market. At the federal level, Vocational Education and Training Awards Council (VETAC) is the regulatory body for VET at the federal level and it works under the auspices of National Qualifications Authority. technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in the UAE. Find also information about higher education institutes in the UAE.
Environment and energy
The UAE government and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment are working with local entities and private partnerships to transform waste from an environmental burden into an economic resource by focusing on the development of the recycling industry and the transformation of waste into energy. Read more about recycling and the reuse of waste. Read also about UAE's efforts to fulfill the SDG 'Responsible consumption and production'.
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and the National Centre of Meteorology provide services relating to weather conditions and environmental status through eNewsletters, RSS, SMS, mobile app and their websites. NACEMA’s National Early Warning System (EWS) supports the emergency management system in the UAE. EWS sends text messages to people to warn them of the dangerous weather conditions and instruct them on procedures to be followed to stay safe.
Find out how can you subscribe for environmental alerts.The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) is the federal entity responsible for the safety of the lives of all citizens and residents on the territory of the UAE and the property of the country. Read also NCEMA guidelines to deal with:
Also, refer to the guide for emergencies (PDF, 9 MB) for tips to survive during natural calamities and wars.
In addition to Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, there is a competent authority of environment in each emirate. They are:
- Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi
- Dubai Municipality
- Environment & Protected Areas Authority - Sharjah
- Ajman Municipality
- Umm Al Quwain Municipality
- Environment Protection and Development Authority - Ras Al Khaimah
- Fujairah Municipality.
Finance and Investment
The eDirham system (electronic smart cards) is a sophisticated method for collecting government revenue, rather than traditional methods (fiscal stamps, receipts, receipt of revenues). eDirham is based on ease and simplicity and relies on the latest technology in the science of computers. (Source: Ministry of Finance)
Value Added Tax (VAT) was introduced in the UAE on 1 January 2018. The rate of VAT is 5 per cent. VAT will provide the UAE with a new source of income which will be continued to be utilised to provide high-quality public services. It will also help government move towards its vision of reducing dependence on oil and other hydrocarbons as a source of revenue.
It is a certificate issued to companies or individuals for them to lawfully claim exemptions from value added taxes in various countries. (Source: Ministry of Finance)
A certificate of tax entitles individuals and companies to benefit from the avoidance of double taxation agreements concluded by the UAE. (Source: Ministry of Finance)
No, the UAE does not levy income tax on individuals.
Currently, the UAE levies corporate tax on oil companies and foreign banks.
However, on 31 January 2022, the UAE announced that corporate tax (CT) will be imposed on the net profits of businesses from either 1 July 2023 or 1 January 2024, depending on the financial year followed by the business. Find out more details on the scope and rate of CT and businesses and income that are exempted from it.
To open a bank account, citizens need to provide a copy of their family book, a salary letter or a letter of NOC (No Objection) from the employer. Expatriate residents need to provide a copy of their passport, a copy of work or residence visa, a copy of their Emirates ID, a salary letter or a letter of NOC (No Objection) from the employer or sponsor. Find out financial institutions in the UAE.
IBAN is the acronym for ISO 13616 standard compliant International Bank Account Number. IBAN is a unique customer account number which can be used confidently in making or receiving payments (excluding cheques and credit cards) within the country as well as abroad. IBAN is applied because it is an internationally accepted standard for numbering bank customer accounts and it is the ISO standard methodology for verifying the accuracy of the IBAN. (Source: Central Bank of the UAE)
Banks in the UAE having customer accounts which are used for electronic payments are authorised to generate an IBAN. No other party is permitted to generate IBAN for bank customers. (Source: Central Bank of the UAE)
Bank customers, who receive or make electronic payments in the UAE or abroad, will require an IBAN. If you have more than one account in your bank, you will require an IBAN for each of your accounts. (Source: Central Bank of the UAE)
The goods' price should be determined according to the real purchasing price paid for the goods. Price includes deal price, shipping cost, insurance and all charges and expenses paid to deliver such goods to the UAE. (Source: Federal Customs Authority)
The imported goods are subject to tariffs with a percentage of customs value at unified customs tariff of the GCC states. Such percentage ranges between total exemption and 100 per cent according to the type of the goods. (Source: Federal Customs Authority)
No customs duties will be charged for such commodities if they are purchased within full consignments or in parts that had been imported across a first access point in any GCC country after the customs union and are supported by re-export statements sealed by the clearance stamps in the country where such commodities came from. (Source: Federal Customs Authority)
Attested certificates of origin in accordance with a defined form are needed. Such certificates should be issued and attested by the competent authority of origin at the Arab country where the goods are produced or manufactured. (Source: Federal Customs Authority)
Yes, you will find information related to paying taxes on the page ‘How to pay VAT and excise tax’?
Suppliers registered with Ministry of Finance can view the results of approved tenders and auctions. Read about it on the page about government tendering and awarding.
You can view announcements of forthcoming procurement/bidding processes on the page about government tendering and awarding.
Health and Fitness
You can look for medical facilities on the websites of:
Jobs
The UAE provides work to approximately 1 million new immigrants every year. For the vast majority of new residents, the opportunity to come to the UAE makes a dramatic and positive impact on their lives. The UAE has taken significant steps to strengthen workplace protections for immigrant workers. A coherent package of reforms were set in place to create greater flexibility for both employers and employees, to ensure that conditions of work and accommodation are of a high standard, and in particular to establish the domestic labour market as a bone fide labour market segment. Read more how the UAE protects the rights of immigrant workers.
On this portal, you can find online directories of jobs and employment-related eServices provided by the respective authorities in the UAE.
Yes, fee zone employees can approach the Labour office for complaints. The Labour office will transfer the complaint to the Labour court for review and final adjudication.
Employees are entitled for paid leave on the public holidays. See the list of public holidays in the UAE.
Employers have the right to decide a staff’s annual leave and also to ask employees to postpone a leave which is already approved and arranged. This is supposed to be done by agreement and compromise and on condition that the employee will not suffer any financial losses from this postponement, such as travel tickets and others.
Passports and travelling
Social affairs
Visa and Emirates ID
Yes, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) provides an online tracking facility to check your application. You will be given an account number when you register. You can track the progress of your Emirates ID card by typing the account number into the EIDA’s website (application status).
UAE nationality is acquired by virtue of law, citizenship or naturalization as per the provisions set out in the Federal Law No. 17 of 1972 on Nationality and Passports, amended by Federal Law No. 10 of 1975 and Decree Law No. 16 of 2017. Find out more information on acquiring UAE citizenship and how to apply. On the other hand, you can reside in the UAE if you are:
• employed by a company in the UAE
• investing in a business in the UAE
• have property in the UAE
• a dependent sponsored by someone who is employed in the UAE, an investor/business owner in the UAE, a property owner in the UAE. Dependents include children, parents, maids on close relatives.
• university students sponsored by their universities in the UAE
• retired residents – in this case, special conditions apply.
Find more information on UAE residence visas.
You can apply for entry permits or visas through the website of Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) which works under the ministry. While ICA offers only online channels, GDRFA offers both online and offline channels. You will find information about all channels on the page ‘Where to apply for entry permits or visas’.
Yes, you are required to carry the Emirates ID card all the time.
You can visit one of the services centres of Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) and submit the relevant official documents that confirm the correct data and apply for a replacement card.
You should report the loss immediately and apply for a replacement card through one of the Authority’s service centres.
Everyone in the UAE must have an Emirates ID card; this includes children and new-born babies.
The card is used for accessing government services, utility bill payment, travelling to other GCC countries and passing through the UAE eGates at the UAE’s airports. It is also used for accessing medical services.
If a tourist or a visitor overstays, he will be fined with a certain fee to be paid at the immigration offices or at the airport when exiting.
An expatriate resident can sponsor his parents for a year's stay by paying a deposit as a guarantee for each parent. Read more
An expatriate resident can sponsor unmarried daughters up to any age and sons up to 18 years. If a son is studying in the UAE after the age of 18, the father can continue to sponsor him if evidence of their studies in the UAE is supplied.
Visiting and exploring UAE
Housing
Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme provides aids in the following ways:
- construction of houses
- financial grants
- interest-free housing loans (Source: Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme).
Public holidays
Transportation
Yes, you can. Find all eServices relating to driving licences on the Services A-Z page.
Yes, you can. Find all eServices relating to vehicles on the Services A-Z page.
Yes, you may change the colour of your car. You need to submit:
- a filled application form
- vehicle registration card
- an approved technical examination report in case changing the colour or engine number
- an official and stamped letter from the company (if owned by company)
- presence of person concerned or his legal representative
- NOC from the CID of Dubai Police.
(Source: RTA-Dubai)
- Category 1: Non-payment of fees or failure to buy the ticket (150 AED)
- Category 2: Parking for longer than the period specified in the ticket (100 AED)
- Category 3: Exceeding the maximum parking duration by parking for more than three hours (some slots do not allow parking for more than two hours) (100 AED)
- Category 4: Parking in the wrong way or illegal parking (200 AED)
(Source: RTA-Dubai)
Hafilat cards are of the following types:
- Contactless Smart Ticket CST (temporary use): it is free of charge and is valid 30 days from the date of purchase
- Contactless Smart Card Anonymous CSC (permanent use): the cost is 10 AED and is valid for 5 years
- Contactless Smart Card Personalised CSC (permanent use): the cost is 10 AED and is valid for 5 years
- Contactless Smart Card Senior Citizen CSC: the cost is 5 AED and is valid for 5 years
- Contactless Smart Card Special Needs/Disabled CSC: the cost is 5 AED and is valid for 5 years
- Contactless Smart Card Students: the cost (of the card only) is 5 AED and is valid for 5 years.
(Source: Department of Transport in Abu Dhabi)
You can find information and services relating to GIS or geospatial data on the following links:
Emergency contacts
Need help?
If you need help, kindly contact:
UAE nationals can apply for social welfare through the website of Ministry of Community Development.